Graves to Gardens Podcast

In the final installment of this Black August series I had the honor of sitting down with professor for the department of Ethnic and Race Studies at CUNY's BMCC, Harvard alumni and New York State Democratic District Leader for the 80th Assembly District, Remysell Salas . I was introduced Remy through Instagram paged Letters to Keith , an account dedicated to former podcast guest Keith LaMar. W...

We are back with the final installment of Justice Arts Coalition's Black August Gallery of the Month series. Today's episode features a conversation with artist Harry Ellis along with JAC's curators from last week's episode, Erin Bonner and Marilyne Njuraita. I urge you to check out Harry's work which you can find Women in the Field Sowing and Unbreakable . You can support JAC...

" Say Their Names " is just one of the pieces that artist Robert Odom contributed to Justice Arts Coalition's Black August online gallery. In today's episode we discuss the work that went into creating the series, Robert's journey as an artist and a deeper look into this special community that JAC is cultivating with artist both on the inside and on the outside. This conversa...

The new season kicks off with a special episode in this series dedicated to Black August. In it, I'm joined by the Talia, the Program Director for the Philly Liberation Center and one of the program's volunteers, Shane. In today's discussion we cover everything from a historical overview of Black August and its significance, each of their personal experiences with serving at the Libera...

What does it mean to celebrate freedom when all of us are not and may not ever experience this freedom that we speak of. The search for freedom is a physical, emotional, and spiritual endeavor that all too often is barricaded by a system that calls itself just. For the final episode of the season, I urge each one of you to listen, learn from and get involved with advocating for Keith LaMar’s exone...

Just two more episodes left in the season and today's a special one! I'm joined by Dr. Charon Hribar , the Director of Cultural Strategies for the Kairos Center for Religion, Rights, and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary and Co-Director of Cultural Arts for the Poor People's Campaign . If the Poor People's Campaign sounds familiar to you, it may be because you might'...

First thing's first - Happy 1 Year Anniversary my Graves to Gardens family! Can you believe we have been rocking with each other for an entire year! Today's episode I extend a lot of thank you's to you for being on this journey with me but that's of course not all. In today's episode I recap a special event I attended this weekend over at Blk Ivy Thrift for a pop-up and Grant B...

In today's episode I'm joined by author, speaker and acclaimed educator Dr. Ruth Backstrom. A graduate from both Columbia University and the University of Iowa, Dr. Backstrom is an educator who has spent over ten years working as a community advocate. This journey of serving her community has taken her on an interesting journey where she's learned from so many others facilitating game-...

In today's episode I am joined by fashion historian and host of The Black Fashion History Podcast, Taniqua Russ. Informed by the research of Dr. Tanisha C. Ford, Taniqua and I spend time discussing the fashion of Black people during the Freedom Movement of the 1960’s-1970’s. In this discussion we unpack what stylistic choices share about one’s politics with respect to their involvement during...

In today's episode I had the extreme pleasure of connecting with Dr. Kimberly McGlonn , an award-winning social entrepreneur and creative director/founder of two Philadelphia-based brands. The six-year-old Grant BLVD and Blk Ivy Thrift which just opened its doors in February have both been making their mark within the local community, garnering the interest of press like WWD , Philadelphia Mag...

In today's episode I sit down with filmmaker Cynthia Salzman Mondell and artist Sandra Lara to discuss their partnership on the film, In Her Shoes . This documentary captures the stories of incarcerated women at the Dallas County Jail in Dallas Texas but what makes their approach so unique is that the connective tissue between each of these women's stories is it all begins with a shoe in m...

Today’s episode features a very special guest, Reverend Cheryl Dawson . Sister Dawson is a former member of the Black Panther Party and has since continued to advocate for the liberation of Black people (more specifically Black women) by serving women in prison and women across the globe. During this impromptu story time, she takes us through her life yet focusing mainly on the needs of the women...

For today's episode, I was blessed to be in conversation with award winning artist, creative director and community activist, Erwin Hines . Erwin is the mastermind behind the San Diego based brand Future Is Color . We discuss his work with the brand from his recent collaboration with Footlocker (which you can still shop the line in stores) to their different ways of engaging with the community. Th...

In today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mychal Pagan and Vincenzo Guido , two men connected to the incredible organization Thrive for Life . Thrive for Life began with Father Zachariah F. Presutti’s ministry behind the walls in New York prison facilities. His efforts have since evolved into this re-entry and pre re-entry program that is adding to the quality of life for many of tho...

In this next chapter of the Black History Month series, I had the opportunity to speak with two men involved with making of The Visiting Room Project . The Visiting Room Project’s incredible approach to shedding light on the sweeping number of individuals serving life without parole in Louisiana has undoubtedly touched many; and I can bet it will have a similar impact on you. In today’s episode yo...

In this episode as part of Graves to Garden Podcast’s Black History Month series, I’ll be highlighting the contributions of another phenomenal woman, Syrita Steib . Syrita is the Founder and Executive Director of a Louisiana-based organization called Operation Restoration . In today’s discussion we talk over everything from the history of the organization to the legendary ways she has empowered ot...

Research shows that 4 in 10 Black women experience physical violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime and Black and Hispanic women represent 53% of domestic violence arrests in 2020 according to data reported by the Judicial Branch. These numbers show that Black and brown victims of intimate partner violence are then funneled into a system that further perpetuates harm rather than pr...

Today I'm kicking off season 3 in pre-Black History Month fashion with a really special conversation. For today's episode I'm joined by artist, activist and all-around amazing entrepreneur OlaRonke Akinmowo. Ola has spent years on the frontlines of activism in Brooklyn, NY challenging presence of police in her community. However, after years of involvement as a community activist she found herself...

In the final chapter of Caring for Our Communities we wrap up the discussion talking about an array of issues from the posting bail to the difficulties of finding a job once entangled with the criminal legal system. Again, I am joined in conversation with the co-founder of the National Bail Out, Arissa Hall , fitness instructor at ConBody, Peter Roman and Civil Rights Attorney, Blerim Elmazi . We...

This is part 2 of Caring for Our Communities featuring the same round of panelists: co-founder of the National Bail Out, Arissa Hall , fitness instructor at ConBody, Peter Roman and Civil Rights Attorney, Blerim Elmazi . In today’s episode we pickup with the discussion of citizens rights. What is unique about today’s discussion is that we dive deeper into what are ways to navigate an encounter wit...

In today's episode I'm joined by 3 really amazing guests. You’ll hear from abolitionist and co-founder of the National Bail Out, Arissa Hall , prison rights activist Peter Roman and Civil Rights Attorney, Blerim Elmazi . In today’s episode we’ll be tackling a rather weighty topic - the issue of citizens rights. During our initial interview we touch on so many subjects. So in an effort to not overw...

In today's episode I'm joined by author and paralegal at the Washington Lawyers Committee, Raymond “Ray” Dodd. In today’s episode Ray shares his personal journey of growing up behind bars as a young person and voices what he believes young people are in need of in order to thrive as fully healed humans. You can purchase Ray’s book Essays of My Journey Through Incarceration into Philosophy here . Y...

“The ability to read awoke inside of me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive.” - Malcolm X In today's episode I'm joined by Dr. Tom Haney, long time volunteer for Books Through Bars Philadelphia . Dr. Haney’s 30+ years working in law enforcement informed his view on the criminal legal system and inspired him to involve himself in the making access to educational services behind bars poss...

In today's conversation I’m joined by the Executive Director of California Lawyers for the Arts , Alma Robinson . Alma beautifully details the comprehensive work that California Lawyers for the Arts is involved in, from programs like their pilot program Designing Creative Futures to their Youth Mediator programs held in 14 different schools in the Sacramento area. Alma shares from The Impact of Pr...

In today's episode I’m joined by artist Rachel Burrell . Rachel is a singer, songwriter, publisher and school mentor to some of New York’s youth. In today's discussion we'll talk about her journey as a musician and how she uses her art to influence the lives of youth living in New York City.  You can follow Rachel on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube to stay connected with her and her work. Ma...